What would have become of our most illustrious golfer without the Real Golf de Pedreña, in the small Cantabrian town where he was born. In that spectacular grassy vantage point overlooking the beautiful bay of Santander, Seve made his debut as a caddie when he was just a brat of 9 years old. His father worked on the golf course as a gardener and his uncle, another illustrious name in Spanish sport, Ramón Sota, who also started playing golf as a caddie at the same club, had demonstrated his great sporting stature by winning four Spanish Championships, twice being runner-up in the World Cup and finishing seventh in the 1963 British Open and sixth in the 1965 Augusta Masters, the best classification of a European in the competition up to that date.
The history of the club dates back to the end of the 20’s of the last century. The Real Golf de Pedreña was founded as an association with the original name of Real Club de Pedreña on December 29, 1928 and adopted its name Real thanks to the concession of King Alfonso XIII. The first board of directors had that monarch as honorary president and the Duke of Alba as president.
At the same founding meeting, it was agreed to purchase the 274 properties that initially made up the golf course, the construction of which was the initiative of Queen Victoria Eugenia. The course became a reality thanks to the work of a group of Cantabrians, some of them adopted, who, united and directed by Ramón Quijano de la Colina, put the Queen’s wish into practice.
After visiting several areas of the province, they chose Pedreña as their definitive location, being remarkable the valuable collaboration of the neighbors of the town council of Marina de Cudeyo (municipality to which Pedreña belongs), who, appreciating the importance that the creation of the golf course would have, facilitated the acquisition of the necessary land.
The route was designed by Harry S. Colt. The topographical nature of the terrain – a wooded hill in an idyllic location: a peninsula surrounded by the Cantabrian Sea and the Cubas estuary – allowed the English experts to develop a masterpiece in golf courses, and the Pedreña course can be classified as one of the best in Europe, being then one of the most modern down to the last detail.
The original course, with 18 holes, 5,272 meters and par 67, has undergone several modifications to improve it throughout its history, having at present a course of 5,764 meters and par 70.
SEVE’S 9 HOLES
In 1992 the club was extended with a new 9-hole course designed and built under the direction of Seve Ballesteros, honorary member of the club, as well as Ramon Sota. It is a beautiful layout with seven holes following the slope along the Cubas estuary and ending with two holes in the woods typical of Pedreña in the vicinity of the clubhouse.
The golf course, with fairways framed by centenary trees, was joined throughout the club’s long history by other sports facilities such as two swimming pools, a children’s chalet and a paddle tennis court. Apart from the 18-hole layout, there is a small par 3 course as a training area and a complement to the driving range.
The excellence of the layout designed by Colt was recognized and praised by his colleague and equally renowned golf architect Tom Simpson, who in 1946 wrote: “The course was planned 20 years ago by Mr. Colt, who had the most skillful intelligence applied to the science of golf structure. To note that today, after 18 years, the course is modern and perhaps the best we have seen among those of similar type and from the point of view of design and construction, is his highest praise. The Pedreña golf course is, in my opinion, the best golf course designed by Harry Colt on the continent. Generally speaking, we have nothing but praise for the layout of this course whose location is, of course, beautiful considering its aesthetic value. The holes on high ground are as good as any of the other courses we have seen, not excepting Pine Valley in the United States. In short, for its location, panorama, charm and aesthetics, Pedreña must surely be unique in its kind”.
IMPORTANT COMPETITIONS
The Real Golf de Pedreña has been the scene of important competitions, including the first in 1930 with an international match France-Spain. The Santander and Cantabrian championships have been held since 1940. Four Spanish Professional Championships, three Spanish Open Championships and 60 Spanish Amateur Championships of different categories have also been held.
It is also worth mentioning important matches between great world stars such as Seve and Chema Olazábal against Tom Watson and Payne Stewart and the match between the captains of the 97 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, Seve and Tom Kyte.
The Real Golf de Predreña, currently chaired by Javier Botín O’Shea, has around 1,500 members.
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THE DIRECTOR’S VISION
Pedro Navedo explains why he considers the club he manages to be one of the most outstanding in the country.
-What qualities would you highlight about Real Golf de Pedreña to classify it as one of the great courses in Spain?
-The Real Golf de Pedreña is located in a privileged setting overlooking the Bay of Santander and the Cubas River. It has a very balanced design and the course has a high level of maintenance throughout the year. It is a great golf experience that will at least be should have once in a lifetime. It is also the course where Severiano Ballesteros has played so many times that it is an inspiration for the golfer to enjoy this course.
-What is the most spectacular hole on the course?
– It is difficult to choose a single hole as there are several very special holes. The 14th has a spectacular view of the Bay of Santander from the green, the 8th hole flies over the river Cubas and depending on the tide you can see two totally different landscapes. The par 3’s are very good, highlighting the 7th hole. The 18th is a good hole to finish with a nice view of the clubhouse. You have to play it to tell the tale…
-Any tips or “tricks” to make a good result in your field?
-The course is not long, so distance is not a problem. It is a comfortable course to play but it defends itself very well with fast greens and subtle drops. You have to be very precise with your shots to the green.
-What does Seve’s name mean for the Real Golf de Pedreña?
-Seve is the best ambassador our club can have. Everything that can be said about Seve is not enough. Not only has he been one of the best players in the world, but also a person with great charisma who has proudly carried the name of Pedreña all over the world.
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THE DESIGNER
Harry S. Colt (August 4, 1869 – November 21, 1951) was a lawyer and was secretary of Sunningdale Golf Club, in the English town where he was born. He became one of the best course designers, as he demonstrated for example at Wentworth or Pine Valley, which he co-designed with George Crump in 1918.
In France he designed the Le Tourquet course. It was always said that Muirfield was not a great course until Colt remodeled it. He later partnered with Alister MacKenzie, working together at Cypress Point, Augusta National and Royal Melbourne in Australia.
He designed 115 courses on his own and participated in the design of two hundred more on five continents. Before the Real Golf de Pedreña he had designed, in 1914, the first Spanish course of more than 4,300 yards, the Club de Golf Sant Cugat.
The phrase “the sun never sets on a course designed by Robert Trent Jones” is equally applicable to the layouts designed around the world by Colt and his collaborators.
Colt, who captained the Cambridge University golf team in 1890, was seven years later one of the founding members of the Royal & Ancient Rules Committee.
The English lawyer, designer and golfer played two of the greatest golf tournaments of his time: the British Open and The Amateur Championship. In both cases, his best result was a thirty-second place.
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IN SHORT
PRESIDENT DUKE OF ALBA
The Duke of Alba, the club’s first president, referred to the Pedreña course in these terms during its inauguration: “It is one of the best in the world and represents a considerable step forward for Santander on the road to becoming a major center of attraction for international tourism.
THE QUEEN’S IMPULSE
Queen Victoria Eugenia was one of the great promoters of the Real Golf de Pedreña, of which she said the following: “This course has not been made to satisfy a wish of mine, but to provide Santander with a necessary complement to its summer resort, for whose prosperity we are all obliged to work”.
THE PRICE OF QUALITY
Enjoying one of the most beautiful courses in Spain is a healthy whim that almost everyone can afford. It is a private club but open to visiting golfers. The price: in winter 115 euros from Monday to Friday and 165 on Saturdays and holidays. In July and August, 200 euros and only on weekdays.
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